Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.
They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.
The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.
"I think the redraft, while improved, remains troubling due to its vagueness," said Larry Clinton, president of the Internet Security Alliance, which counts representatives of Verizon, Verisign, Nortel, and Carnegie Mellon University on its board. "It is unclear what authority Sen. Rockefeller thinks is necessary over the private sector. Unless this is clarified, we cannot properly analyze, let alone support the bill."
Representatives of other large Internet and telecommunications companies expressed concerns about the bill in a teleconference with Rockefeller's aides this week, but were not immediately available for interviews on Thursday.
GO HERE to read more from CNET News.
9 comments:
reminds me of the Bush/Cheney reduction of american freedom tactics.
I did not see one word in this posting about Al Gore giving his permission for such a thing.
Did he not say he invented the internet!
this terrorist we have in office and has filled the white house wants to control every aspect of our lives, not to mention he wants to celebrate 9/11.
raise your hand if you think he'll make it to 2012?
ParkAndRide, change the name or your posts won't go up. You know what I'm talking about, or haven't you noticed nothing of yours has been posted?
Tee-
You should go to jail for postings like this.
how stupid how does one go about disconnecting people The internet isnt a place to disconnect from and you think the cable and telephone people are going to give up revenue for the service PLEASE
Our government has operated under the emergency powers act since WWII.
Absolutely keep your hands off my internet! Amendment #1
All of those who voted for Obama will be the first to start whining about all of the freedoms lost as a result of Obama.
Obamabots, this guys deeds are stuck all over you!
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